Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-07-07
4 HUMAN CORMORANT.
A Remarkable Negro who Ca 6ches FiGh
with Ills Hands and Mouth.

a ReinafkaDie Negro who Ca GcheS flIh
with Ills Hands and Mouth.
Some weeks ago the Chronicle made
mention of the wonderful feats per-
formed at Moores Lagoon by colored
man named Wallace Bailey, clubbing
him ''the human king-fsher," but the
account was ridiculed and laughed at
generally, being considered the pro-
duction of vivid Imagination. What
was then stated, however, does not
comprise third of what this man is
capable Of doing in the water Know
ing that the great majority of people
entirely doubted Bailey's powers, sew
eral gentlemen finally persuaded him
to name a day for public exhibition.
Yesterday afternoon, therefore, near
ly a hundred people had assembled at
the lagoon, which is located about one
mile from the eastern boundary of the
city on the ferry road. Disrobing at
one end, he SWAN down to the open
stretch of water before the crowd
Quickly, but with hardly a ripple on
the placid surface, he sank beneath the
water. Up to this time many present
were skepticai as to the result, and
when 4 minute had nearly elapsed and
he had not come to the top, the doubt
ing ones felt certain that it was q sell
Of some kind.
Hello, there he is.
''Thc human cormorant" came to
the top like cork, holding both hands
aloft, III each appearing struggling
fish. This caused furry of applause,
which encouraged the fisher, and af-
ter throwing his prey out on the bank,
he went down again. This, too, was
the most successful dive of the day,
for when he came up not only did he
have fish in each hand, but one in
his mouth. This was enough in itself
20 satisfy the entire audience, although
some were OF the opinion that he had
two or three fish tied at the bottom.
During the morning he caught two or
three punches, and went in again at
3 o'clock. The water was too cold,
and he could not stand it longer than
IN hour. He captured eight or ten
fish, however. including trout, perch,
Dream, and catfish. 1t was wonderful
work, indeed, and al who saw it were
amazed. On leaving the water the
man shook like leaf, and narrowly
escaped Il chill
After most Of the crowd had left
reporter talko-l for some time with
Bailey. His tory was certainly
strange one, and will bear repetiton:
How long have you been at this
business?"
About six years. But | can only
enter the water i'll summer, and even
then it freezes me clear to the BONE
w hat iii the world ever possessed
you to try such il thing?"
We'll, sir, it was all in a dream /
took several Of my female friends
down to Lagoon one afternoon on
fishing party, and while there / fell
asleep. | Went to dreaming, and
thought | just div under and caught
EN- with my hands. When | woke up
| ran to the other end of the pond,
took off my clothes and jumped in. 1t
felt mighty funny at first to keep my
eyes open under water, but | stuck to
it and III little while caught two or
three dozen fish. Since then | have
tried it every summer, and now /
can see snags, stumps, or anything
else. Why, can tell what kind of
fish | see, and can get any kind they
tell me"
after you catch sight of the fish,
how do you secure him?"
''Oh, that's easy enough. He can
get along pretty fast, at first, for
about eight yards, but then he gets
slow, and can just keep on and catch
him, because, you see, | can stay un-
der the water two or three minutes
H., I 4.h f ~
finding their beds. Sometimes there's
twenty or thirty huddled together, and
then you 90 up easy, put one in Your
mouth, grab one in each hand, and
come to the top. When the sun comes
out good they drop to the bottom, u
lot Of EN- getting together in 4 bed,
and goes to sleep or gets stupid any
how. That's the easiest way to catch
em, but it doesn' make any difference
to me, cause I'll get 'em, no matter
what they do"
''Do they ever fin you?"
Sometimes, especially if it's cat
fish. Sec my hands, don't YOU, how
they're scrotched? That's what
done it"
why do you prefer to fish in the
Iagoon?"
Because it's still water, and clear,
too. The river is usually muddy, and
basides the current is strong. In eddy
N..6er | can outsWim fish, but can't
do it against the stream. 1t doesn't
trouble me bit to catch 'em in any
kind of 4 pond or lake. In a river, if
a fish started up the stream, he would
leave me far behind. | have caught
several in the Savannah, but it was
only by quick work. Still water is
the best "-Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle.